FBI Fingerprinting in Madrid: Where to Go, What to Bring, and How to Get It Right

Americans living in Madrid who need an FBI background check for a Spanish visa, residency application, or employment often hit the same wall at the same point in the process. Not understanding what FBI fingerprinting actually requires and where to get it done correctly in Madrid.

The FBI does not take fingerprints at its own offices abroad. The US Embassy in Madrid does not offer FBI fingerprinting as a standard walk-in service for Identity History Summary applications. Spanish police stations do not have the correct card stock or the specific rolling technique the FBI requires.

That leaves one reliable option in Madrid: a private fingerprinting provider that specifically offers FBI-compliant ink fingerprint collection on FD-258 or FD-1164 cards.

This guide explains exactly what FBI fingerprinting involves, why it is different from other types of fingerprinting, where to get it done in Madrid, what affects print quality, and what happens to your fingerprint cards after they leave Spain.

To get more information about how to get this done, read: “FBI Background Check for Spain: The Complete 2026 Guide”

When people say they need FBI fingerprinting in Madrid, they mean they need to provide physical ink fingerprint impressions on an official FBI fingerprint card so they can apply for an FBI Identity History Summary.

The FBI Identity History Summary is the fingerprint-based federal document that shows your complete criminal history in the United States. Spain requires it to be apostilled and translated into Spanish for the Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, and most other long-stay categories. Fingerprinting is the first step in that chain.

The specific card format the FBI requires is the FD-258 or FD-1164. These are standard FBI fingerprint cards with ten specific print boxes for rolled and flat impressions of each finger. The cards must be printed on heavy-weight card stock. A standard sheet of printer paper is not acceptable. The impressions must be taken using ink rolled onto a flat surface, not smudged or pressed.

This is ink fingerprinting, not digital or electronic fingerprinting. No scanner is involved. The impressions are physically rolled in ink onto the card, and that physical card is then mailed to the United States for submission to the FBI.

This is the most common practical mistake Americans in Madrid make when they first look into the process.

Spanish police stations, the Policía Nacional and the Policía Local, do not stock FBI-specific FD-258 or FD-1164 fingerprint cards. They use their own national DNI fingerprinting systems, which are completely different in format and not accepted by the FBI.

Even if a station is willing to help, the cards they have will not meet FBI specifications. And without the correct card stock, the impressions cannot be submitted. Attempting this route typically results in wasted time and the need to find a private provider anyway.

The US Embassy in Madrid similarly does not offer FBI fingerprinting as a public walk-in service for Identity History Summary applications. The Embassy handles specific consular functions, but FBI background check fingerprinting is not routinely provided there for this purpose.

The practical answer for Americans in Madrid is a private fingerprinting provider who specialises in FBI submissions.

Applicants looking for FBI fingerprinting in Madrid can use a specialised fingerprinting provider that understands the requirements for FBI Identity History Summary applications. Globeia provides FBI-compliant fingerprint collection through mobile appointments in Madrid. A trained fingerprinting associate travels to a convenient location, including:

• Home
• Office
• Hotel
• Other agreed locations

During the appointment, the fingerprint associate:

• Provides the required FBI fingerprint card
• Collects ink fingerprints using proper techniques
• Takes rolled and flat impressions as required
• Reviews the fingerprint quality before completing the card

Checking fingerprint quality during the appointment helps identify issues immediately. If a fingerprint impression is unclear, it can be corrected before the card is submitted.

After fingerprint collection, the fingerprint card is prepared for the FBI submission process. The FBI CJIS Division remains responsible for processing the request and issuing the official FBI Identity History Summary. Globeia does not issue FBI background checks or make decisions regarding FBI processing. Its role is to assist applicants with the fingerprint collection stage and related preparation.

Book your FBI Fingerprinting in Madrid today!

There are three ways to get the correct FBI fingerprint cards if you need them:

• Through your fingerprinting provider. If you book with Globeia or another specialist provider, they supply the official FD-258 or FD-1164 cards as part of the appointment. You do not need to source them separately. This is the simplest route.
• Print from the FBI template. The FBI provides high-resolution PDF templates of the FD-258 card on its official website. You can download the template and have it printed at a print shop in Madrid. The key requirement is that it must be printed on heavy card stock, typically 90 to 110 gsm at minimum. Standard A4 or printer paper is not acceptable. Bring the FBI specification details with you to the print shop as most shops will not know the weight requirement by default.
• Order online for delivery to Madrid. Official FBI-compliant fingerprint cards manufactured on government-grade card stock are available from US suppliers and can be ordered online and delivered to a Madrid address. This takes a few days but guarantees the correct material. This option is useful if you are doing the process independently through the direct FBI mail route.

Print quality is the single most common reason FBI submissions from Madrid are returned without processing. A rejection means new fingerprints, a new submission, and weeks of additional waiting that directly affects your 90-day Spain validity window.

Several things affect print quality:

• Skin condition

Dry, cracked, or very calloused fingertips produce faint impressions. Very smooth fingertips, sometimes seen in people who do a lot of manual work, can also produce unclear prints. If you have any skin issues on your fingertips, mention this when booking.

• Moisture level

Too much moisture causes smudging. Too little causes faint prints. Do not apply hand cream, lotion, or oil on the day of your appointment. Wash your hands an hour before your appointment but avoid excessive washing immediately beforehand, as this can strip natural oils the skin needs for a clean impression.

• Technique during rolling

The associate guides your hand and rolls each finger from nail to nail across the card. Tensing your fingers, pulling away, or lifting mid-roll disrupts the impression. Relax your hand completely and let the associate control the movement.

• Correct pressure

Too much pressure flattens and blurs the ridge detail. Too little leaves the impression too faint to read. A trained associate controls pressure consistently across all ten fingers.

A good associate checks each impression before moving to the next finger. If an impression does not meet quality standards, it is retaken on a fresh card. Getting this right at the collection stage saves weeks compared to discovering the problem after the FBI processes the submission.

Once your fingerprint cards are completed in Madrid, the submission chain moves as follows:

• Cards couriered from Madrid to the US: The physical FD-258 or FD-1164 cards are sent from Madrid to Globeia Inc. in the USA by tracked international courier. Transit time is approximately 5 to 10 business days.
• Submission to the FBI CJIS system: Globeia Inc. coordinates electronic submission to the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division on your behalf. The FBI is the only authority that processes the submission and issues the result.
• FBI processing: Processing times are determined entirely by the FBI based on application volume and individual circumstances. Typically, US citizens and green card holders receive results within 1 to 3 business days from the date the FBI receives the fingerprint cards. Non-US citizens typically wait 2 to 3 weeks.
• FBI issues the Identity History Summary: The document is issued directly by the FBI. If you requested digital PDF delivery through the eDO portal, it arrives by email. If you requested a mailed copy, it is sent to the return address you provided.
• Apostille through the US Department of State: For use in Spain, the FBI Identity History Summary must be apostilled by the US Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington DC. This is a separate step that follows the FBI issue. Standard processing runs 5 to 8 weeks. Globeia coordinates this step on your behalf as part of the overall process.
• Certified Spanish translation: After the apostille is attached, the document must be translated into Spanish by a jurado, a court-authorised sworn translator recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Translation always comes after the apostille. Globeia coordinates certified Spanish translation as part of the process for clients applying for Spanish visas.

Read Gloebia’s Complete US Apostille for Spain Guide 2026.

Spain requires the FBI document to be issued within 90 days of your visa application or consulate appointment date. Given the full timeline above, start your fingerprint appointment at least 12 weeks before your intended filing date if you need the apostille and translation.

• Two valid government-issued photo IDs

At least one must show your full name, date of birth, photograph, and signature. A valid passport and a national identity card or driver's licence are the most commonly accepted combination. Photocopies of both are required for submission records.

• Any reference documents from the requesting authority

If you have been given a reference number, application code, or specific instructions from the Spanish consulate, employer, or institution requesting the background check, bring these to the appointment. Some submissions require this information on the fingerprint card.

• Clean, unlimited hands

Do not apply hand cream on the day of your appointment. Wash your hands an hour before but avoid repeated washing in the hour immediately before.

• Information about your intended use

Let the associate know whether the fingerprints are for a Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, employment, or another purpose. This determines whether any additional documentation is needed alongside the fingerprint cards.

The FBI fingerprinting in Madrid is the one part of the process that need to be complete with full accuracy and FBI standards. Everything else in the chain- the FBI submission, the apostille, the translation- can be managed remotely or coordinated through a single provider.

Book with a provider who brings the correct cards, uses the right technique, and checks quality on-site. The 20 to 40 minutes you spend on a well-executed fingerprint appointment in Madrid determines whether the rest of the process takes 3 weeks or 3 months. Choose Globeia fingerprinting service in Madrid and rest assured that your application process will go smoothly.